Penetration - Movement (1979)

Penetration formed in 1976 in County Durham, with a line-up of lead singer Pauline Murray, Robert Blamire on bass, Gary Smallman on drums and Gary Chaplin on guitar. Chaplin left in March 1978 and was replaced by Neale Floyd, with second guitarist Fred Purser joining in July. They first called themselves The Points, later deciding to name the band Penetration, after a song by Iggy & The Stooges. They were at the forefront of the emerging punk movement in 1977, and their second gig was supporting The Stranglers at Newcastle City Hall. They also played at The Roxy during its first 100 days, and supported such bands as Generation X, The Vibrators, and Buzzcocks. After signing with Virgin Records, they released their debut single 'Don't Dictate' to almost universal acclaim, and following the 'Firing Squad' single in 1978 they were invited to record the first of their two John Peel session. The band's debut album 'Moving Target's was released later that year, and is now recognised as one of the best punk albums of its time. In 1979 they toured Europe, the US and Britain, but the grueling schedule began to take its toll, with a disappointing reaction to their second record 'Coming Up For Air' being the final nail in the coffin of the band, and they split up in October 1979.  Although Pauline Murray went on to achieve some solo success, collaborating with The Invisible Girls (which also included Robert Blamire), as well as other Manchester musicians such as Vini Reilly and Steve Hopkins, Penetration's split was a blow for fans of this all too short-lived group. As well as the two long-players and a handful of non-album singles, the band left behind some interesting demos of songs which never made it to record, a number of exclusive b-sides, and those two classic Peel sessions, all of which are gathered here to celebrate one of the great unsung punk bands of the era. And do check out 'Moving Targets', as it really is a classic album. 

Track listing

01 Duty Free Technology (demo 1977)
02 In The Future (demo 1977)
03 Race Against Time (demo 1977)
04 Don't Dictate (single 1977)
05 Money Talks (b-side of 'Don't Dictate')
06 Firing Squad (single 1978)
07 NEVERr (b-side of 'Firing Squad')
08 V.I.P. (b-side of 'Life's A Gamble' 1978)
09 Vision (John Peel session 1978)
10 Future Daze (John Peel session 1978)
11 Movement (John Peel session 1978)
12 Stone Heroes (John Peel session 1978)
13 Danger Signs (single 1979)
14 Last Saving Grace (John Peel session 1979)
15 Coming Up For Air (John Peel session 1979)